Continuous Electric Dehydration of Cathode Material via Electrophoresis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for dehydrating positive electrode active materials, such as lithium nickel composite metal oxides, are discontinuous and inefficient, leading to residual moisture issues and increased risk of explosion due to incomplete removal of residual lithium, which reacts with oxygen and water.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus utilizing a rotating drum and a guide device with an applied electric field for continuous electric dehydration of the positive electrode active material, employing electrophoresis to remove remaining cleaning solutions, with a conductive filter and spacer to enhance efficiency and prevent leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If discontinuous mechanical dehydration is used to remove residual lithium, then residual lithium removal is achieved, but dehydration efficiency is low and continuous processing cannot be performed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous dehydration by conveying the positive electrode active material through a rotating drum structure where material is continuously fed in at one end and dehydrated material is discharged at the other end. The material moves continuously through the dehydration zone between the drum surface and guide device, eliminating the need for batch processing while maintaining effective residual moisture removal through sustained electric field application.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical dehydration methods with electrical dehydration using an electric field. Electrodes generate an electric field that acts on the positive electrode active material during conveyance, enabling water removal through electrochemical reactions rather than mechanical compression or centrifugal force, thereby achieving both continuity and effectiveness.
2Ease of manufacture
If water washing is used to remove residual lithium, then residual lithium is easily removed, but remaining water on the surface causes continuous lithium leaching and safety issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces water washing with electrical dehydration using an electric field generated by electrodes. The electric field drives electrochemical reactions that remove water from the positive electrode active material without leaving residual moisture on the surface, thereby eliminating the harmful effects of continuous lithium leaching and explosion risks while maintaining ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the dehydration parameter from chemical (water washing) to electrical (electric field application). By applying controlled voltage between electrodes, the system achieves dehydration through electrochemical processes that remove both residual lithium and water simultaneously, with the electric field strength and duration being controllable parameters that optimize both removal effectiveness and surface dryness.
3Reliability
If batch dehydration processing is used, then dehydration can be performed, but frequent loading and unloading operations reduce processing speed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates batch processing by implementing continuous conveyance of positive electrode active material through the dehydration zone. Material is fed continuously into the rotating drum and discharged continuously after dehydration, maintaining constant processing action without interruption for loading or unloading, thereby achieving both complete dehydration and high processing speed through uninterrupted flow.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic movement through the rotating drum structure that continuously transports material through the dehydration zone. The rotation creates continuous motion and exposure of material to the electric field, replacing static batch processing with dynamic continuous processing, thereby increasing processing speed while maintaining dehydration completeness through sustained exposure.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables continuous and effective dehydration of positive electrode active materials, minimizing re-inflow of condensate water and improving dehydration efficiency while preventing material leakage, thus reducing the risk of explosion and enhancing the stability of the battery.
Implementation Method 1
which includes a second electrode for generating an electric field caused by a potential difference between the first electrode and the second electrode so that a cleaning solution remaining in the positive electrode active material introduced by the transfer member is dehydrated by using electrophoresis due to the electric field
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for continuous electric dehydration of a positive electrode active material, includes a first electrode; a transfer member on which a positive electrode active material is seated, moves to continuously transfer the positive electrode active material to the drum; and a guide device, which is disposed to surround a part or all of the drum and in which the positive electrode active material comes into close contact between the guide device and an outer circumferential surface of the drum when the transfer member moves between the guide device and the outer circumferential surface of the drum and which includes a second electrode for generating an electric field caused by a potential difference between the first electrode and the second electrode so that a cleaning solution remaining in the positive electrode active material introduced by the transfer member is dehydrated by using electrophoresis due to the electric field.